Around 21 dies and 50 injured in trains collision in Landhi Karachi

KARACHI: At least 21 people were killed and 50 injured after two trains collided in Karachi`s Landhi area early on Thursday morning, rescue sources said.

The incident occurred in Gaddafi Town Landhi when Fareed Express collided with Zakaria Express, due to wrong signal given to the latter. Scores of people were wounded in the wake of the collision, rescue sources said.

The injured were transferred to Jinnah Hospital, Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and Civil Hospital, where emergency has been declared.

At least twenty injured have been shifted to Jinnah Hospital, informed head of emergency at JPMC, Seemi Jamali.

According to the DS Railway, Fareed Express and Zakariya Express were the two trains that had collided with each other.

Initial investigation reveals that the driver of Zakaria Express ignored the signal.

The DS Railway also claimed that the two trains collided near Landhi Jumma Goth. Police and rescue teams reached the place of the collision to assist in relief efforts.

Sources also revealed that bogies of the two trains were also damaged due to the accident.

Fareed Express was coming to Karachi from Lahore, while Zakaria Express had set off from Multan.

The government has ordered an inquiry into the incident and announced Rs 1,000,000 as compensation for the dead and Rs 500,000 for the injured.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has ordered an inquiry into the accident and sought punishment for those found responsible.

He directed for immediate rescue and relief activities to save lives of those stranded and critically injured persons and called for best medical treatment for them.

He also expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls.